California's Teen Birth Rate Continues to Drop

California's teen birth rate has continued to decline to a record-low 25.7 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19, according to Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health.

The 2012 rate shows an 8 percent decline from the 2011 rate of 28 births per 1,000.

Teen birth rates decreased among all racial and ethnic groups between 2000 and 2012. Hispanic adolescents have the highest birth rate at 38.9 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19 -- but they also had the greatest decline, down from 77.3 in 2000.

The California Department of Health says education, community based programs that provide sexual health information, and services and support for expectant adolescents are helping the teen birth rate decline.